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170-HP Motor Also Being Considered For UAV Use

A team effort to develop a new diesel powerplant has literally
taken off. Diamond Aircraft recently conducted the initial test
flight of that engine in a DA40 Diamond Star.

According to Diamond, the new 170-horsepower turbodiesel
powerplant was made possible through a collaboration with Diamond
and Austro Engine GmbH. Both companies have their headquarters in
Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Germany's MB-technology GmbH is also a partner in the
engine's development, according to the London, Ontario
planemaker.

Diamond Aircraft CEO Christian Dries and Sören Pedersen,
Managing Test Pilot at DAI carried out the maiden flight together.
Both state the engine showed high performance while also being
economical.

Dries added through consequential implementation of MBtech
developed combustion technology, in comparison to
‘normal’ engines they succeeded in lowering the overall
fuel consumption by 20 percent -- while maintaining
performance.

In addition to possible uses in the GA market, Diamond is also
reportedly exploring making it available for use in unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs).